Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg: A goalkeeper's job should be to catch the ball

Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg believes his main job is to catch the ball

In a time when it is fashionable for keepers to be as good with their feet as their hands, the Everton shot stopper prefers to keep things simple.

“Basically the main priority for goalkeepers is saving balls,” the Dutchman said bluntly when asked about the new trend of ‘sweeper’ keepers.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola packed Joe Hart off to Torino this summer as he didn’t believe the England No.1 was good enough with his feet.

But the pitfalls of a keeper trying to be too clever were there for all to see on Wednesday when Hart’s replacement Claudio Bravo was caught out with a misplaced pass at Barcelona and then sent off for handling outside of the area.

Expected Everton XI to face Burnley

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“People don’t have to forget that the main thing for a goalkeeper is saving balls and then everything you do extra to help the team is a bonus”

Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg

It’s not like Stekelenburg is against the idea. Having come through the ranks at Ajax, he knows all about playing out from the back.

But for him it is more of a bonus than a necessity to be handy with your feet as well as your hands.

“I come from the Ajax Youth academy, I’m used to playing with my feet,” he said. “I don’t have any problem with that.

“People don’t have to forget that the main thing for a goalkeeper is saving balls and then everything you do extra to help the team is a bonus.

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Pep Guardiola has made Claudio Bravo his No.1 at Manchester City for his footwork skills

“These days goalkeepers have to be all round. They have to be good with their feet, high balls, the basic goalkeeping stuff. There are a lot of demands on goalkeepers these days.

“There is no point playing out from the back because there are not a lot of teams that start from the goalkeeper and score at the other end.

“Bayern Munich, Barcelona, City at the moment are able and capable of doing that. We want to play out from the back but we don’t want to put too many risks in it because then we will concede goals.”

Stekelenburg has certainly proved good with his hands since arriving at Everton in the summer from Fulham.

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman was expected to bring in another keeper despite having Stekelenburg with him on loan at Southampton last season.

Instead the Dutchman has taken his chance and the shirt with both hands.

His best display came last weekend when he saved two penalties against City – first from Kevin De Bruyne then Sergio Aguero.

Everton skipper Phil Jagielka gave away both spot kicks. “He said thank you but I am still waiting for dinner,” Stekelenburg said.

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Maarten Stekelenburg saved two penalties in Everton's Premier League game at Man City

But the double penalty stop was not even the highlight for him in the 1-1 draw. Instead it was a late save from De Bruyne, which Stekelenburg admits could be one of his very best.

He said: “It is difficult to name one save that is the best. It is just the moment in the game that is important.

“If you make that save on 4-0 down, it is different but we got a point, which makes the moment more special.”

Stekelenburg was in relaxed mood as he prepared to face Burnley today at Turf Moor having finally it seems settled after a nomadic career that has seen him make six moves since 2011.

There was a title win at boyhood club Ajax before a gamble going to Roma went wrong after a change of manager and then his arrival in England went sour when he fell out with former Fulham boss Felix Magath.

A spell at Monaco on loan followed which was used as a “training year” before he featured for Koeman at Southampton last season while Fraser Forster was injured.

“When you have kids it is difficult,” he added.

“I have signed a three year contract here and hopefully I can stay for a long time for my family but also for me as a No.1.”